Attachment mechanism for medical patient platform

ABSTRACT

A medical device comprising a medical procedure patient platform having a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having a substantially rigid male connecting member; and, an extension having a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with male connecting member. In a particular embodiment, the device further provides that the female connecting member is configured to maintain the extension in a horizontal arrangement upon attachment to the male connecting member. In another embodiment, the female connecting member is configured to attach to the patient platform at any location along the length of the peripheral edge.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/981,209, filed Nov. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,866, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,546,filed May 1, 2003, now abandoned, the disclosures of each are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Related Art

In the medical field it is known for medical practitioners to utilizetables for various medical procedures. In one application, imagingtables are used to scan the interior of the human body for any number ofmedical conditions. One such application may include X-raying a patientfor diagnosis of a physical or medical condition. It is also known inthe medical arts to place a patient on a stationary table and maneuveran imaging device around the patient. Yet, certain examining energyrays, such as X-rays, may be blocked, that is to say absorbed, by thepatient platform itself.

In the medical art it is also known to utilize medical equipment oraccessories on or about the procedural tables. This may includecatheters, surgical equipment, and the like. Such equipment is needed inclose proximity to the patient and the region of the body being examinedor treated. For example, someone's arm may need to be extended to insertan IV. It would be advantageous to have an extension suited forsupporting the person's arm while the IV is being inserted. Alternately,an extension may be useful in checking for shoulder movement duringdiagnosis while the patient is positioned on the examining table.

Therefore, an apparatus and method for extending accessories of varioustypes is needed for use with medical procedure and surgical patientplatforms that can be conveniently and quickly placed into, and removedfrom, various positions. It is also advantageous to have accessoryextensions that do not affect examining energy rays. The subjectinvention obviates the aforementioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Particular embodiments of the present invention include apparatus andmethods for providing and attaching an extension to a medical procedurepatient platform. Particular embodiments of the present invention amedical device. Such medical devices include a medical procedure patientplatform having a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edgehaving a substantially rigid male connecting member; and, an extensionhaving a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member,the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachmentwith male connecting member.

Particular embodiments of the present invention further include anextension for attachment to a medical procedure patient platform. Suchextensions include a substantially and permanently rigid femaleconnecting member, the female connecting member configured forrotational mating attachment with a substantially rigid male connectingmember located along a length of a peripheral edge of a medicalprocedure patient platform.

Particular embodiments of methods of the present invention, that aremethods for extending a medical procedure patient platform, have stepsthat include providing a medical procedure patient platform having aperipheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having a substantiallyrigid male connecting member, and providing an extension having asubstantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the femaleconnecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with maleconnecting member. Other steps include placing a portion of the femaleconnecting member in contact with a top portion of the male connectingmember and rotating substantially the entire extension downward, therebyinterlocking the interlocking member with the connecting portion.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more detailed descriptionsof particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein like reference numbers represent like partsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, at least one embodiment of which will be described in detail inthis specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichform a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a medical procedure patient platformtable with an energy ray imaging device;

FIG. 2 a is an isometric view of a medical procedure/surgical table top(patient platform) with an extension attached thereto;

FIG. 2 b is a cross-sectional view of a medical procedure/surgical tabletop (patient platform) with an extension attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a close up cross-sectional view of the extension interlockedto the medical procedure/surgical table top (patient platform);

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the extension interlock for the medicalprocedure/surgical table top (patient platform);

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly for the extension;and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the extension with receiving edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating at least one embodiment of the invention only and not forpurposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 depicts a medical procedure table1 with patient platform (top) shown generally at 2. The medicalprocedure patient table 1 or medical patient table 1 may support apatient, not shown, for use with various medical examining or treatmentprocedures. It is understood for the subject invention that the medicalpatient table 1 may be used for any medical purpose including, but notlimited to, surgery, minimally invasive surgical procedure, diagnoses ofmedical conditions, treatment of medical conditions, X-raying, and thelike. FIG. 1 depicts one application of the medical patient table 1 usedwith an energy ray imaging device 3, which may be an X-ray machine 3.The energy ray imaging device 3 may be maneuvered about the medicalpatient table 1. In this manner, when a patient is placed on the medicalpatient table 1 the imaging device 3 and/or patient platform 2 may betranslated through various axes of movement taking images of the patientat various places and angles without having to move the patientindependently of the patient platform 2. Since the medical patientplatform 2 may at times reside between the imaging device 3 and thepatient, the medical patient platform 2 may be constructed frommaterials that do not block or absorb the energy examining rays, thusallowing the rays to pass through the patient platform 2 and into thepatient. If the medical patient platform 2 absorbed a significant partor all of the energy rays, higher power energy rays may have to be usedto obtain a quality image of the patient's body, which may result indamage of the patient's tissue due to the higher energy power level ofthe rays. That is to say that higher power energy rays would have to beused to overcome the absorption of rays by the patient platform.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 and now to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, amedical patient platform 2 is depicted apart from the medical patienttable 1 in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b and separate from a specific medical use.It is noted that the medical patient platform 2 may include extensions,which will be discussed in subsequent paragraphs. The medical patientplatform 2 or medical procedure patient platform 2 has a characteristiclength L, width W, and thickness T. The dimensions of the length, width,and thickness may be chosen with sound judgment as is appropriate foruse in supporting a patient as described above. In one embodiment, themedical patient platform 2 is generally rectangular. However, anygeometric configuration of medical patient platform 2 may be chosen withsound engineering and/or medical judgment. The medical patient platform2 may be constructed from a rigid inner core 9 material and an outerskin 8. The core material 9 may be a limited-energy ray absorbing foamthat does not appreciably absorb examining energy rays, which may beX-rays, gamma rays, and the like. The outer skin 8 may be constructedfrom carbon fiber. It is noted that any material may be chosen for thecore material 9 and the outer skin 8 that does not substantially affectthe examining energy rays.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b and now to FIG. 3, amedical patient platform extension 14 (which, in this application willbe interchangeably used with accessory extension 14) is shown attachedto the medical patient platform 2. The medical patient platformextension 14 may be selectively attached to the medical patient platform2 without the use of fasteners such as clamps, screws, and the like. Themedical patient platform extension 14 may include a recess 16.Correspondingly, the patient platform 2 may include a protrusion 18 foruse in interlocking with the recess 16 of the accessory extension 14. Inthis way, the recess 16 (which is the female receiving portion)interlocks with the connecting portion 18 (which is the male portion) ofthe medical patient platform 2. The manner in which the accessoryextension 14 interlocks with the medical patient platform 2 will bediscussed later in a subsequent paragraph. The medical patient platform2 may include a peripheral edge 21 traversing the circumference of thelength and width of the medical patient platform 2. The male connectingportion 18 may be contiguously fashioned about the entire peripheraledge 21 of the medical patient platform 2. In this manner, the recess 16may selectively receive the male connecting portion 18 at any pointalong the peripheral edge 21. This makes the accessory extension 14versatile and easily positionable at any place conducive to the medicalpractitioner's job in performing their diagnosis or treatment. In oneembodiment, the accessory extension 14 is a patient platform extension,shown in FIG. 2 a, which increases the width of the patient platform 2.One or both sides of the medical patient platform 2 may be extended asdesired for accommodating different size patients and patients havingdifferent medical needs. In another embodiment, the accessory extension14 may include an arm extension 25 that connects to the connectingportion 18 taking up less width along the peripheral edge 21, shown inFIG. 1. It can be clearly seen that the any accessory extension 14 canbe constructed according to varied medical needs for interlocking ontothe medical patient platform 2, as long as chosen with sound engineeringand medical judgment. In this manner, the accessory extension 14 may beselectively infinitely positionable along the entire peripheral edge 21of the medical patient platform 2.

With reference to FIG. 3, the composition of the accessory extension 14will now be discussed. The accessory extension 14 may include a corematerial 9 surrounded by an outer skin 8. The core material 9 may befoam that forms a rigid base of the accessory extension 14. However, anymaterial may be used to form the rigid base of the accessory extension14 as long as chosen with sound engineering judgment and that does notappreciably absorb examining energy rays. The outer skin 8 may beconstructed of carbon fiber forming a laminate layer over the rigid basematerial. However, any material may be chosen for use as an outer skinmaterial, and any means of affixing the two sections together may bechosen using sound engineering judgment. In this way, the accessoryextension 14 may be selectively positioned anywhere about the peripheraledge 21 of the medical patient platform 2 without interfering withexamining energy rays during the medical procedure, treatment, ordiagnosis.

The recess 16 of the accessory extension 14 and the connecting portion18 of the medical patient platform 2 may be configured such that the twoportions 16, 18 fit together by tilting the medical patient platformextension 14 upward, placing the recess 16 onto the male connectingportion 18 and lowering the medical patient platform extension 14 to asubstantially horizontal position. It is noted that the bottom portion16 b of the recess 16 is generally flat (slightly arced) such that thereis no interference or force required to fit the medical patient platformextension 14 onto the medical patient platform 2. Recess 16 alsoincludes a ridge 16 a that contributes to the interlocking of recess 16with connecting portion 18, as ridge 16 a matingly fits within recess(depression or groove) 18 a of the connecting portion. In this manner,the medical patient platform extension 14 may easily be installed andremoved, as desired.

With references to all of the FIGURES, operation of the invention willnow be discussed. An associated operator may grasp the appropriateaccessory extension 14 needed for a specific application prior to and/orduring a medical procedure. The operator may select where it is bestdesired to position the accessory extension 14 along the peripheral edge21 of the medical patient platform 2. The operator may then angle(rotate) the accessory extension 14 upward to fit the recess 16 over theconnecting portion 18 of the medical patient platform 2. The operatormay then tilt (rotate) the medical patient platform extension 14downward when the top portion of the recess 16 is juxtaposed to therecess (depression or groove) 18 a of the connecting portion 18. Fordisassembly, the operator may simply lift up on the accessory extension14 and remove the accessory extension 14.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an alternate embodiment will now bediscussed. FIG. 4 shows the underside of a patient platform extension14. In this example, the patient platform extension 14 may be a patientplatform arm extension member 14′. In accordance with the previousdiscussion, the patient platform arm extension 14′ may include therecess 16 for use in fitting onto the male connecting portion 18 on themedical patient platform 2. The recess 16 may be a part of a bracketassembly 17 that is connected to an armrest member 19. It is noted thatthe arm rest member 19 may be any kind of patient platform extensionmember. In this manner, the bracket 17 and the arm rest member 19 maycomprise the patient platform arm extension member 14′. The bracketassembly 17 may be continuously formed member constructed of materialthat does not block or absorb the energy examining rays, thus allowingthe rays to pass through the bracket assembly and into the body.Similarly, the arm rest member 19 may also be constructed from this kindof material. The bracket assembly 17 may include several different partsthat may allow the arm rest member 19 to pivot with respect to thebracket assembly 17. In this way, the entire patient platform armextension member 14′ may be infinitely positionable along the periphery21 of the medical patient platform 2 and the arm rest member 19 maypivot with respect to the bracket 17. The arm rest member 19 may bereplaced by any medical extension device or appliance chosen with soundengineering judgment.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket assembly 17 mayinclude bracket assembly members that make up the bracket assembly 17and allow the arm rest 19 to pivot with respect to the bracket assembly17. In one embodiment, the bracket assembly 17 may include a bracketframe 22, a gear member 25, and an index member 30. It is noted that thebracket frame 22 may include the recess 16 as discussed above. Thebracket frame 22 may be a contiguously formed bracket frame 22. However,any manner of constructed bracket frame 22 maybe chosen with soundmedical and engineering judgment. In this embodiment, the gear member 25may include gear teeth 27, fashioned at least part way around theperiphery of the gear member 25, as shown in FIG. 5. The bracket frame22 may rotatably receive the gear member 25 within an aperture 35 formedin the bracket frame 22. In this manner, the aperture 35 and the gearmember 25 may be substantially circular in configuration. Thus, the gearmember 25 may rotate within the bracket frame 22. It is noted that anyconfiguration of aperture 35 and gear member 25 and any manner ofrotatably receiving the gear member 25 within the bracket frame 22 maybe chosen with sound engineering judgment. The arm rest 19, or othermedical implement, may be fixedly attached to the gear member 25 so asto cause the arm rest 19 to move in conjunction with the gear member 25.In one embodiment, a wedge member 37 may be included that passes fromone side of the arm rest 19, through the arm rest 19, and into thebracket frame 22. A flat 39 on the wedge member 37 may be received intothe gear member 25, which may also have a matching flat 39′. In thismanner, the arm rest 19 and wedge member 37 may be fixed in placed withrespect to the gear member 25 such that when the gear member 25 isrotated, the arm rest 19 is rotated in unison.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the index member 30 may beconnected to the bracket frame 22. Additionally, the index member 30 maybe adjustable between an engaged and disengaged position as will bediscussed presently. In the present embodiment, the index member 30 mayinclude one or more gear teeth 28 that may engage the gear teeth of thegear member 25. This is necessary to discretely index the arm rest 19about a certain radius. When the index member 30 is in the engagedposition, the gear teeth 28 of the index member 30 mate with the gearteeth 27 of the gear member 25, thereby preventing the gear member 25from rotating. Alternately, when the index member 30 is in thedisengaged position, gear teeth 28 are disengaged from gear teeth 27,thereby allowing the gear member 25 and arm rest 19 to rotate. In thismanner, an operator may move the index member 30 into the disengagedposition, rotate the arm rest 19 as desired and move the index member 30back into the engaged position, which will hold the gear member 25, andcorrespondingly the arm rest 19, in position. It is noted that the anglethrough which the arm rest 19 may rotate is dependent upon the number ofgear teeth 28 fashioned on the periphery of the gear member 25. Anymanner of connecting the index member 30, gear member 25, wedge member37, and arm rest 19 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 and now to FIG. 6, the bracket member 22may include a bracket extension member 55 that may be received by thebracket member 22. The bracket member 22 may be fashioned to include anangled ledge 56, as shown in the FIG. 6, to prevent upward movement ofthe bracket extension member 55 when the bracket extension member 55 isjuxtaposed to the bracket member 22. In this manner, the bracketextension member 55 is held in place during use. It is noted that anyangle of ledge 56 maybe chosen with sound engineering judgment as isappropriate for use with the present invention. The bracket extensionmember 55 may similarly have an angled surface 57 to match the angle ofthe ledge 56. In one embodiment, the ledge 56 is linear sloped surface.However, it is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the ledgemay be curved in either a convex or a concave shape. Still, anyconfiguration of ledge 56 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.

At least one embodiment has been described, hereinabove. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods mayincorporate changes and modifications without departing from the generalscope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope ofthe appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A medical device comprising: a medical procedure patient platformhaving a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having asubstantially rigid male connecting member; and, an extension having asubstantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the femaleconnecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with maleconnecting member.
 2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the femaleconnecting member is configured to maintain the extension in ahorizontal arrangement upon attachment to the male connecting member. 3.The medical device of claim 1, wherein the female connecting member isconfigured to attach to the patient platform at any location along thelength of the peripheral edge.
 4. The medical device of claim 1, whereinthe female connecting member includes a top and a bottom projection,where each projection forms a boundary of a female receiving area, thetop projection including a ridge extending towards the bottomprojection; and, wherein the male connecting member includes along a topsurface a depression configured to matingly receive the ridge of thefemale connecting member.
 5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein theextension does not substantially absorb associated examining energyrays.
 6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the extension is acatheter support extension.
 7. The medical device of claim 5, whereinthe extension is a platform extension, an arm extension, or an accessoryextension.
 8. An extension for attachment to a medical procedure patientplatform, the extension comprising: a substantially and permanentlyrigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configuredfor rotational mating attachment with a substantially rigid maleconnecting member located along a length of a peripheral edge of amedical procedure patient platform.
 9. The extension of claim 8, whereinthe female connecting member is configured to maintain the extension ina horizontal arrangement upon attachment to the male connecting member.10. The extension of claim 8, wherein the female connecting member isconfigured to attach to the patient platform at any location along thelength of the peripheral edge.
 11. The extension of claim 8, wherein thefemale connecting member includes a top and a bottom projection, whereeach projection forms a boundary of a female receiving area, the topprojection including a ridge extending towards the bottom projection;and, wherein the male connecting member includes along a top surface adepression configured to matingly receive the ridge of the femaleconnecting member.
 12. The extension of claim 8, wherein the extensiondoes not substantially absorb associated examining energy rays.
 13. Theextension of claim 12, wherein the extension is a platform extension, anarm extension, or an accessory extension.
 14. A method for extending amedical procedure patient platform, comprising the steps of: providing amedical procedure patient platform having a peripheral edge, a length ofthe peripheral edge having a substantially rigid male connecting member;an extension having a substantially and permanently rigid femaleconnecting member, the female connecting member configured forrotational mating attachment with male connecting member; placing aportion of the female connecting member in contact with a top portion ofthe male connecting member; and, rotating substantially the entireextension downward, thereby interlocking the interlocking member withthe connecting portion.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the femaleconnecting member is configured to maintain the extension in ahorizontal arrangement upon attachment to the male connecting member.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the female connecting member isconfigured to attach to the patient platform at any location along thelength of the peripheral edge.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein thefemale connecting member includes a top and a bottom projection, whereeach projection forms a boundary of a female receiving area, the topprojection including a ridge extending towards the bottom projection;and, wherein the male connecting member includes along a top surface adepression configured to matingly receive the ridge of the femaleconnecting member.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the extensiondoes not substantially absorb associated examining energy rays.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the extension is a catheter supportextension.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the extension is aplatform extension, an arm extension, or an accessory extension.